Emma Willis has urged people to support homeless charity Shelter after a very difficult year.
Emma Willis supporting Shelter
The 44-year-old presenter has backed the organisation's calls for the public to buy a festive lunch from M&S to raise money for their emergency helpline.
M&S food ambassador Emma said: "I’m so grateful that I was able to stay safe in my home with my kids throughout this unpredictable year.
"But not all families have had that luxury - and the chaos of the pandemic means that more people are facing homelessness for the first time.
"Over a million families in England are worried they’ll become homeless as a result. So, pick up an M&S sandwich - and help Shelter pick up the phone for the families who need them.”
The funds will look to help families struggling across the UK, particularly after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris Seaby - Head of Product Development for the M&S festive lunch range - added: “The M&S and Shelter partnership has been helping to keep people safe in their homes for 15 years.
"During that time, we have proudly supported hundreds of thousands of people and families facing homelessness.
"We fully support Shelter’s belief that nobody should face homelessness alone - and are proud that buying something tasty from our festive lunch range is a simple way to make a big difference.
"This year, as more people have turned to the Helpline, we must do all we can to help those who need Shelter’s support.”
Parents Matt and Heidi - and their two kids - are among those who will benefit from the support, after being evicted from their rented home in Lincolnshire just after Christmas last year.
The pair and their two children are currently living in a private rental, but it’s in a state of disrepair and they hope to find a safe and permanent home in the future.
Matt said: “We spent months sofa-surfing and were staying with Heidi’s parents when the UK first went into lockdown in March.
"But with her stepdad vulnerable after having a quadruple heart bypass, we felt like we had to go.
“We've got quite a big tent stored at Heidi's parent’s house, and there were even a few times I was looking at it and thinking, we're going to end up living in that.
"When things had gotten so bad, it was good to have Shelter’s support - especially when I don't know where else we would have found help."
Shelter's helpline manager Andrea Deakin noted: "I think myself so lucky to have a safe home when I know just how many families are living through this pandemic without one. Our emergency helpline is open 365 days a year because we don’t want anyone to face homelessness alone. But as more people turn to us, we urgently need the public’s support to keep answering their calls."
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